Road paver



Feb. 22, 1938. c. G. ABERNATHY 2,109,020

ROAD PAVER Filed sept. 21., 1934 4 sheets-sheep 1 INVENTOR Ciyde G. CUoeTnuhy ATToRNfga/ Feb. 22, 1938. i

C. G. ABERNATHY ROAD PAVER Filed Sept. 2l, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR made G. ahem@ WATT-ORNE@ F eb. 22, 1938.

C. G: ABERNATHY ROAD PAVER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 21, 1934 lNvr-:NToR C13 le G dbernahy BY @wb Feb. r22, 1938. c. G. ABERNATHY ROAD PAVER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 2l, 1934 WWK,

, @Uuml-@plu Patented ifeb. 22, 1938v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROAD Pavan n Clyde G. Abernathy, nomen, Nair.' Application September 21, 1934, Serial No. 744,933

' 21 claims., (c1. 94-44) 'I'his invention relates to a road paver and 4 the rollers also permits either or both side rollers more particularly to amachine for laying, crownto be adjusted inwardly slightly from the strip ing and finishing stone and asphalt mixes upon so as to leave a narrow edging or ridge of'unroadways and resurfacing the same or in prorolled material. Such a ridge is left at the edge 5 viding `an original'surface or base for the road. of a strip which is to'be subsequently joined to 5 'I'he machine is more particularly intended for another strip and when the second strip islaid use in laying and nishing cold mixes of stone, accurately to this narrow unrolled ridge and the asphalt and a solvent for the asphalt, such as whole rolled by the rollers of the paver a smooth black top and amiesite but can also be used with joint is provided between the two strips and an f hot mixes. intimate union of the material of the two strips l0 'I'his application is an improvement on my cois obtained. pending application Serial No. 593,495, led Feb- Another object of thepresent invention is to ruary 17, 1932 for Road spreader. provide a power drive for all of the rollers and In common with my said prior application, one wheels of ythe paver and in particular to provide of the principal objects of this invention is toy a front wheel drive. 15

provide a machine which lays and grades heavy In common with my said previousy application mixes of asphalt and stone or the like; which the invention includes a reciprocating cutter bar will handle large quantities of such mixes and or strike-off member which can be arched or accurately grade the same to provide the uniform crowned to accurately cut and surface the matesurface desired without the use of forms; which rial being delivered from the hopper so as to 20 will hold the layer deposited accurately to the provide a smooth and accurately finished roadroad specii'lcations so'as to effect a very substanway to the exact thickness desired. In the prestial saving to the contractor using the machine; ent invention this reciprocating cutter bar is carand which accomplishes this without requiring ried by opposed springs which can be adjusted any handling of the mix, the mix being dumped as totension so as to move the cutter bar up and 25 directly into thev hopper ofthe machine from down relative to the machine and provide the the trucks which transport the mix to the job. desired thickness of the layer being laid. These .Another object of the present invention is to Springs are of suicient strength to hold the cutincorporatein such a paver, rollers which can ter bar accurately in position but permits the be adjusted to roll the full width of thestrip cutter bar to yield slightly in cutting through the 30 being laid immediately after it has been laid, material being deposited so as to initially adapt the provision of such rollers avoiding roller marks itself to unusual conditions, suchas an excesin the pavement. Two spaced rollers are prosively large stone, and then gradually work this vided in the paver shown in my said previous apstone into position.

plicaticn. In the nnished surface the space be- Another purpose is to provide means for rais- :z5 tween the rolled stretches showed discoloration ing and lowering the cutter bar relative to the when hot mixed materials were used, that is, the frame which includes a gage by which the elevastripes left by the original rollers'of the paver tion of the cutter bar can be observed. This, ofv were of a different appearance from the intermecourse, permits of accurately setting the cutter 40 diate stripe even after the whole roadway was bar to the thickness of layer desired` without the w subsequently rolled by the usual steam roller. In necessity of guess work and cut and try methods. the case of cold mixed types of materials there Another object of the present invention is to was a noticeable improvement in the texture of provide, in the vertical adjustment of the cutter Vthe material vthat was rolled immediately after bar, means for independently adjusting either AF15 it was laid and before the solvent evaporated. end of the cutter bar to arly position desired. `By45.

Therefore with both `hot and cold mixes an adi this means the machiner can be adjusted tov any vantage obtains in rolling substantially the full vcondition required/,particularly in layinga Wide. width of the material as it is laid, this being a roadway ofl several strips where the rcrown-is feature ofthe present invention. i necessarily provided in several sections. l

Another object of the present invention is toA In common. with my said prior application the 50 provide a paver .having a plurality 'of rollers for present invention includes .a hopper into winch rolling the full width of the material` being laid the mix is dropped from trucks and from which and in which the rollers are adjustable laterally it is discharged by means of a raker bar and so as to permit'vthe machine to be used for laying smoothed to an exact elevation Vby meanszof .a

strips 0f Varying Widths.. This adjustment `of reciprocating cutter bar.v The present, invention f proposes to provide a closure for the discharge opening so that when the machine is being transported the closure can be closed and thereby avoid the necessity of removing the mix in the hopper. v

carrying a rotatablesleeve against which the rear` wheels of the truck are driven,so' that the truck and paver can travel along together, the truck gradually discharging its mix into the hopper from which it is distributed. In actual practice it is entirely feasible to push the truck along.

Another object is to incorporate in such a machine an edger plate which is disposed under and at the ends of the reciprocating cutter bar so that the strip is laid to an accurate width, without the use of forms of any kind. Without tendency to roll the stones out f-urther 'when laying a vthin layer'than when laying a .thick layer and in either case the spreading out leaves a ragged edge to which it is dimoult to match ried by thesame sub-carriage which carries the reciprocating cutter bar.'v y

Another object is to provide a machine of this character which will handle any kind of paving 30 materials; which is entirely self-contained and in which the same prime mover is used to propel the machine and also to operate the moving parts.

' Further objects are to render the machine easily adjustable throughout and capable of easy operation and to provide a machine which is extremely simple and strong in construction and reliable in 'its operation and will stand up under conditions of severe and constant use without Y. getting out of order.

40 A further purpose of the present invention is to provide convenient means fory blocking oif any 'desired `extent of the hopper so as to reduce the width of the strip being laid. By this means .the spreader can be usedto lay strips of anyy 45 width up to the maximum width of the machine,

thereby facilitating its use under. unusual conditions.

Another purpose of-the present invention is to provide a'n. adjustment of the teeth carried' by 50 the raker bar within 'the hopper, these teeth serving to spread the material along the hopper and being adjusted so as to spread the material out in the hopper and at the same time not crowd the material up against the end walls of 55 the hopper. In the accompanying drawings: i

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a road paver em` bodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal central section.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section, taken generally alongline 4 4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical fragmentary longitudinal 55 section. taken on line 5 5, Fig. 1, and showing the gage for indicating the elevation of the cutter bar.

Fig. 6 is 'a fragmentary horizontal section. taken on line 5 6, Fig. 5, and showing the cutter 70 bar, the edge plate and a part of the operating mechanism for reciprocating the cutter bar.

Fig. "Iv is a vertical transverse section along line 1 1, Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a cross section through one side 0f 75 a lstrip of pavement which has been laid' by the this edger the reciprocating cutter bar'has a up a second strip.- 'I'his edger is preferably carf taken along line Il li, Fig. l and showing a paver and showing in dotted lines the adjoining strip after it has been cut to the desired level by the cutter bar but before the rollers have passed over it, this view indicating the manner in which a smooth intimately bonded seam is obtained between the two strips.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the rear wall of the hopper and showing one end of the hopper blocked off b y aA series oi panel sections so that the machine laysy a relatively narrow strip of pavement.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on -line lil-I0, Fig. 9. y

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section joint between the two vertical plates used in blocking off a portion of the hopper. v

Fig. 12 is asimilar section taken on line I2 |2, Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary section, partly in elevation, of the raker bar showing the manner in which the angularityl of its teeth is adjustable to suit different materials.

Fig. 14 is a vertical vfragmentary section through one end of the hopper and the plates whichblock off a portion of the hopper and taken removing the mix from the hopper. The rear on line |4-I4, Fig. 10. r n

Fig. 15 is 'a fragmentary vertical section taken on line I5 I5, Fig. 14.

In its general organization this invention consists in a frame or carriage which is supported at its front end by power driven steeringwheels which are adapted to ride upon the surface to be paved and supported at its rear end by power driven rollers which ride upon the paved strip and which are laterally adjustable and overlap so that the entire paved strip can be rolled. Intermediate its ends the carriage supports a transverse hopper into which asphalt and aggregate mixes can be dropped directly from a truck, the wheels of the truck resting against a horizontal roller so that the paver can push the truck along. A raker bar having teeth adjustable as to angularity is provided in the hopper to even the material dumped into the hopper and the matecut to the desired height by a vertically adjustable transversely reciprocating cutter bar. For this purpose the cutter bar is preferably carried by a sub-carriage or frame which also carries an edger so that the strip laid is accurately edged. A gage is provided for observing and setting the desired height of the cutter bar vand the cutter bar is preferably carried between opposed compression springs so that a limited amount of yield is provided.v A closure or gate is also provided, preferably lpower operated, for closing the discharge opening of the hopper so that theL paver canbe transported from place to place without rollers rest upon the material to bepaved and it is therefore apparent that variations in the roadway being paved will not materially affect the thickness of the layer deposited since the lcutter bar is supported intermediate the front wheels o5 "which ride on the surface to be paved and the rear rollers which ride upon the finished surface. By this means it is apparent that the height of the strip laid is dependent on the diiIerential in the height of the front wheels and rear rollers and hence irregularities in the sub-grade do not materially affect the nnished surface. Moreover, since roads are generally made with a layer of large aggregate and asphalt binder and a finishing layer of smaller aggregate with binder, the 75 finishing layer is extremely smooth, even though the sub-grade is extremely rough, this being obtained without the use of forms or special grading. Another feature of the invention resides in the use of tted panels for blocking off any portion of the'hopper so that the machine can be adapted to lay a strip of less width than the maximum width for which the machine is designed.

The main frame or carriage of themachine includes two side plates I0 and also form the sides of a hopper indicated generally at II and two pairs of side channels I3 and I4, the channels I3 being secured to and projecting forwardly from the side plates I0 and the upper channels I4 projecting rearwardly Afrom-the side plates I0.

These side channels are connected by cross beams 5 which are arranged at suitable intervals as determined by the arrangement of the other parts of the machine, as hereinafter described.

The rear end of the frame is supported by a plurality of rollers shown as comprising two outer rollers I8 and I9 and one inner roller 20, the center roller being set rearwardly from the side rollers and overlapping the side rollers so as to roll the entire surface over which the machine travels. The side or forward rollers I8 and I9 are keyed to a cross shaft 2| and are adjustable transversely or along the shaft by means of set screws 22 in an extended hub 23 on each of these rollers. This shaft 2| is suitably journaled at its ends in bearings 24 depending from the side channels I 4 Aof the carriage. The rear or intermediate roller 2li is keyed to a vtransverse shaft 25 and the ends of the shaft 25 are journaled in vertically movable bearing blocks 26 which are mounted in guide brackets 21. these guide brackets being secured to the main frame. A spring 28 is interposed between the top of each bearing block 26 and the guide bracket 21 so as to form a spring support between the rear roller 20 and the main frame and the degree of compression of each of these springs is adjusted by means of a screw 29 which upon being screwed downwardly `compresses the corresponding spring. The purpose of the spring tension adjustment is to adjust the downward pressure of the three rollers upon the pavement, the central or rear roller 20 being adjusted until it exerts the same pressure as the xed side rollers, thereby to obtain a uniform rolling of the entire strip being laid as hereinafter described. All three of these rollers are power driven to propel the paver as hereinafter described.

The front end of the main frame or carriage is supported by a pair, of wheels 30 which form both power or traction wheels and also steering wheels. These wheels are adapted to travel upon the surface to bepaved which may be either a roughly graded sub-grade or an old pavement which is being re-surfaced. Each of the wheels 30 is carried by a fork 3| which is formed to provide a vertical pintle 32. Each of the pintles is arranged in a vertical bearing 33 on an arm 34 which projects forwardly from the main frame and is secured in any suitable manner.

The paver is propelled by avgas engine 3,6 or other form of motive power, the gas engine shown having a clutch I6 and a gear box 31, the clutch being operated by means of a lever I1 vand suitable linkage connecting this lever with the clutch I6. A main drive shaft 38 projects laterally from the gear box 31. As best shown in Fig. V1 this drive shaft 38 drives a reversing and change speed gear (not shown) contained in agear box 39,'the reversing and change speed gearing being operated by means of a lever 40, the machine being operated by ani operator on a platform 4| at the rear of the main frame or carriage.

The drive shaft 42 from the change speed and reversing gearing projects laterally from the gear box 39 and carries a sprocket 43 which drives a chain 44 and another sprocket 45 on a jack shaft 46, this jack shaft being suitably journaled under the platform 4 I. The jack shaft 46 also carries a, sprocket 41 driving a chain 48 and a sprocket 49 on a second jack shaft 50 which is also suitably supported in bearings under the platform 4I. l

This last jack shaft 50 carries two sprockets 5| and 52, the sprocket 5| driving a chain 53 and a lsprocket 54 which'is fast to the shaft 25 of the rear or intermediate roller 20 so as to drive this roller. The other sprocket 52 drives a chain 56 and a sprocket 51 on the shaft 2| so as to drive the two forward or outer rollers I8 and I9.

The front or steering wheels 30 are also power driven and for this purpose another sprocket 5B is mounted on the shaft 42 which extends outwardly from the reversing and speed changing gear casing 39 and this sprocket 58 drives a chain 59 and a sprocket 6I] and a jack shaft 6|, this jack shaft being suitably journaled in bearings carried by the main frame. vAt each end this jack shaft 6I carries a bevel gear 62, each of which drives a beveled gear 63 on a longitudinal shaft 64 which is suitably journaled in bearings carried by the main frame and slopes downwardly from the beveled gear 62. The front end of each of the shafts 64 is connected by a universal joint 65 with a drive shaft 66 which is splined in a driven shaft 61. The forward end of each of the driven shafts is connected by a universal joint 68 with a small stud shaft carried by the corresponding fork 3| in bearings 69. Each of the small stud shafts carries a bevel gear 10 driving a large beveled gear 1|. Each of the large beveled gears 1I is carried by the outer arm of the corresponding fork 3| and is also formed to provide a small pinion 12 which drives an internal ring gear 13 which is secured directly to the corresponding front wheel 30.

The hopper II in addition to the side plates |II includes a rear wall 15 which joins the rear edges of the side plates I0 and is preferably additionally supported by one ofthe cross beams I5 and also preferably extends above the operators platform 4I so as to form asupport for different operating gear and also to protect the motor and gear from the paving material being deposited in the hopper. The front wall 16 of the hopper is low and is disposed at a gentle angle so that the paving material slides freely down to the opening 11 at the bottom of the hopper and formed by the spacing of the front and rear walls thereof. This opening is vrelatively narrow and extends the full width of the hopper. The front wall 16 is preferably in the form of a steel plate supported by an. angle frame 18 which is secured to the side plates I0 of the hopper. amiesite or a hot mix of asphalt and aggregate is deposited directly in the hopper II from the The paving material, such as black top,

dump trucks which transport the material to along while the load is being deposited and the roller 80 forming an anti-friction bearing between the cross bar 8| and rear wheels 19 of the dump truck.

In order to permit of moving the paving machine from pla`ce to place without clearing all of the paving material out of the hopper II, a gate or closure is provided for the opening 11 in the bottom of the hopper, this being closedbefore driving the paver to another location. This gate, indicated generally at 83, is preferably power )operated and for this purpose a sprocket 84 is mounted on the shaft 42 extending outwardly'frorn the speed change and reversing gear casing 39 this sprocket driving a chain 85 and a sprocket 86 which, through a clutch 81, drives a shaft 88. This clutch 81 is operated by means of a lever 89 in any suitable manner. The shaft 88 carries a sprocket 90 which through a chain 9| drives a sprocket 92 on a jack shaft 93. This jack shaft 93 carries another sprocket 94, which through a chain 95 drives a sprocket 96 on a cross shaft 91 which extends the full width of the hopper and is suitably joumaled in theside plates I of the hopper. This cross shaft 91 carries a plurality of small pinions 98 which mesh with `corresponding racks 99, these racks projecting forwardly from the gate 83. This gate slides horizontally in suitable guideways |00 provided in the side plates I0 of the hopper and the racks of this gate are sufficiently long to completely open and close the gate.

The material in the hopper is agitated and 'distributed and also crowded through the discharge opening of the hopper and under the cutter bar, hereinafter described, by a rotary raker which comprises a shaft ||0 journaled at its ends in the side plates I0 of the hopper and carrying, within the hopper, a plurality of blades |I| which can be of any suitable construction but are preferably in the form of small angles which enter the material edgewise but are disposed obliquely so as to shift the material laterally. 'I'hese blades are also spirally disposed around the shaft I I0 and their arrangement and setting is such as to move the material away from the center of the hopper, where it is deposited, and toward the sides thereof. With some heavy materials it is necessary to set the blades of the raker bar |I0 at a steepy angle or pitch so that the material will be spread out uniformly throughout the hopper. At the same time such an `angle of the blades |I| would be too great with lighter materials which would be crowded against tle side walls I0' of the hopper. To avoid this condition each of the blades III is adjustably mounted on the raker bar I I0 so that the angularity of each blade I I I can be individually adjusted. A simple means for providing such adjustment comprises a bolt |09 which extends through the foot of each blade and through the raker bar. By loosening the bolts |09 it is apparent that the blades I I I can be turned to provide any desired angularity and to properly even out the particular material employed. The angularity of the faces of the blades I I I also serves to initially compress the material before passing under the reciprocating strike-off bar thereby `insuring greater uniformity in the texture of the road.

The raker bar ||0 is, o-f course, power driven while the machine is in operation and for this purpose the following drive is shown:

.Power is taken from the sprocket 86 (Fig. l) through a clutch ||2 .which is operated .by means of the lever ||3 or in any other suitable manner' and drives a cross shaft ||4 carrying a beveled gear ||5. The beveled gear ||5 drives a beveled vhereinafter described. This cutter bar comprises a at plate |20 forming the bar and having secured thereto, as by rivets or bolts |2I, a plurality of fiat blades or teeth |22 which project forwardly under the opening 11 of the hopper and are preferably V-shaped in plan. These teeth are also preferably beveled in accordance with my aforesaid co-pending application. At suitable intervals U-shaped brackets |23 are secured to the upper side of the bar |20, the legs of these brackets projecting upwardly and each carrying a pair of vertically spaced rollers |24. These rollers ride upon a vertically flexible track |25, the track being arranged between the rollers so that as the track is flexed a corresponding change in the curvature of the movement of the cutter bar is effected. In order toI regulate the cated at |29, these members forming a sub-car riage or frame for the cutter bar. At suitable intervals upstanding bolts are secured to the flexible track |25, between the line of movement of the brackets |23, and project upwardly through holes provided in the angle bar |26. A pair of adjusting nuts |3I are carried by each of the bolts |30 on opposite sides of the angle bar |26 and it is therefore apparent that by adjusting the nuts |3| any desired curvature can be pro-vided in the track |25 and rigidly held by tightening the nuts against the opposite sides of the angle b-ar |26. By this means the cutter bar can be adjusted to take any curvature and will follow this curvature in its reciprocatory movement so that any desired crown can be provided. The angle |26 is also preferably reinforced by another angle |33 which strengthens the sub-carriage or frame.A

It is apparent that the vertical adjustment of the subframe or carriage and the reciprocating cutter bar carried thereby relative to the main frame will determine the thickness of the layer being deposited on the road. For this purpose positive adjusting means are provided for both raising and lowering the sub-frame, these means, however, including opposed springs so that the sub-frame has a limited amount of yield in a verticaldirection to enable the -cutter bar .to adapt itself to unusual conditions, such as encountering an unusually large stone. Each end of the cutter bar is adjustable entirely independently of the other end to any desired elevation),

' creasing thickness toward the center ofthe road it is highly desirable to provide a convenient ad-v justment of the opposite ends of the cutter bar to any desired elevation to obtain the desired difference in the thicknesses of the layer at its opposite sides.

'Ihe means for adjusting each end of the cutter bar and sub-frame downwardly comprises a vertical shaft |35 at each end of the cutter bar, this vertical shaft being threaded at its upper end and working in a nut |36 which is bolted to the channel |4. kAt its upper end each of the vertical shafts |35 carries a hand` wheel |31 by which it is turned to work it up or down. The lower end of each end f each shaft |35 is provided with an enlarged head |38 which works in a tubular housing |39, each of these housings being secured in any suitable manner tothe angular bar |26 which forms part of the sub-frame and directly carries the cutter bar. A compression spring |40 is interposed between the head |38 of the vertical shaft |35 and the upper side of the angle bar |26 so that upward yield of the angle bar |26 and the entire sub-carriage of whichit forms a part, is provided in any adjusted position of the cutter bar and sub-carriage.

The upward adjustment of each end of the cutter bar is effected byaI hand wheel |4| which is fast to a post |42-each post being suitably journaled in bearings carried by the main frame. At its lower end the post carries a worm |43 which meshes with a worm wheel |44 on a horizontal shaft |45 this shaft being carried by a pair of bearings mounted on the back of the rear Wall 15 of the hopper asbest shown in Fig. 7. A chain |46 is secured to the shaft |45 and is wound on or unwound from each shaft |45 as the shaft is turned. The lower end of each chain |46 connects with an eye bolt |41 which extends through the angle cross bar |33 of the sub-carriage and a helical compression spring |48 is interposed between the nut |49 on the lower end of each eye bolt |41 and the underside of the angle bar |33 so that downward yielding movement of the sub-carriage and its cutter bar is provided in all positions of adjustment of the same.,

As previously stated the cutter bar assembly is reciprocated transversely of the paving machine along the track |25 and the power for reciprocating the cutter bar is taken from a second shaft |50 projecting outwardly from a gear box 31 of the m'otor. The operation of this second shaft is controlled by a clutch l| which is operated through push rods and shafts from a lever |52, this lever being mounted conveniently near the operator. The shaft |50 carries a sprocket |56 which dn'ves a chain |51 and a sprocket |58 which is fast to a shaft |59 which is suitably journaled on the main frame.

`This shaft carries another sprocket |60 driving a chain IBI and a sprocket |62 ona fore-and aft crank shaft |63 which is suitably journaled in` bearings |64 carried by the main frame. 'Ihe crank of the crank shaft |63 carries a roller |65,

as best shown in Fig. 6, and this roller is arranged of the cutter bar to obtain exactly the desired f thickness of the layer being deposited a gage is provided at each side of the sub-frame or carthrough openings provided in the side channels I3 and I4 of the main frame. At its upper end each of the rods |61 is calibrated and a pointer f |68 is secured on the top of the corresponding channel member |4 of the main frame, this gpointer being used in cooperation with the callbrations on the corresponding rod |61 to set or reset the corresponding end of the cutter bar in accordance with the exact thickness of the layer desired.

In the absence of provision to prevent it the cutter bar tends to roll the stones out at the edges of the strip being laid, the degree of rolling out depending upon the thickness of the layer, the size of the stone and other factors and providing a ragged edge to which it is dimcult to match up the next succeeding strip. To prevent this an edger plate. |69 is provided, this cdger plate |69 being arranged below the line of travel of the teeth |22 carried by the bar |21 and projecting forwardly beyond the forward end of the opening 11 of the hopper. This edgerplate -is rigidly carried by a bracket which is bolted at its upper end to the corresponding side angle bar |21 of the sub-frame. It will be understood that the edger plates |69 are so provided at each side of the machine so as to secure an accurateedging of both sides of the strip being laid. I

The paver is steered from the front wheelsand for this purpose a steering wheel |1l mountedV on a steering post |12 is provided, this steering post being suitably journaled and having at its lower end a worm |13, this worm driving a Worm wheel |14'on a shaft |15, this shaft extending crosswise of the machine and being suitably journaled in the end plates I0 of the hopper |I. At its opposite ends a lever |16 is mounted on this cross bar |15, this lever carrying and oper-V ating aconnecting rod |11. The front end of each of these connecting rods is pivotally connected to an arm |18 projecting outwardly from the'corresponding outer arm of the fork 3| which carries the corresponding front wheel. It is therefore apparent that upon turning the steering wheel both of the front forks 3| will be swung about a vertical axis so as to steer the paver, power being at the same time applied to these wheels as previously described. 4

Where successive strips are to be laid edge to edge it is desirable to set the outer roller |8 or I9 which ,travels along the edge to be joined or seamed slightlyinwardly from the edge of the,

strip so that a narrow ridge |80 of unrolled material is left at the edge of this strip, as villustrated in Fig. 8. When the next `strip` is laid the ridge |80 forms an abutment or dam to which the next strip can be readily laid and in' laying this next strip the adjacent outer roller of the machine is preferably adjusted outwardly so that it rolls down the dam |80 as well as the rest of the strip which is laid. In this manner the finished surface is along the dot-dash line illustrated in Fig. 8 and there is no unevenness or diiiculty in making a smoothly joined seam between the two strips. vAlso the seam between the two strips is an intimately bonded union inasmuch as the two strips are rolled together at the seam by leaving theA ridge |80 in the seam i first laid. It will bejnoted that to this end the reciprocating strike-off bar is provided with teeth its full length and reciprocates beyond the end of the hopper. By this means the strike-olf bar reworks the unrolled edge of the strip already laid by working fresh material into it and effects a seamless intimate union between the two strips. It will be appreciated that the ability to adjust the rollers laterally is important in securing such a seam between the several strips being laid.

In laying a roadway of several strips it frequently happens that it is desirable to lay one or all of thestrips of less width than the full width of the machine. To adapt the paver to lay such strips simple and convenient means are provided which can be attached to or removed from the machine and which block olf any desired amount of the hopper so that, of course, only the remaining portion of the hopper is employed to lay the strip and therefore the strip laid is narrower than the maximum width which the machine will lay. This construction is best illustrated in Figs. 9-15. As best shown in Fig. 14 a vertical supporting plate |80 is mounted within the hopper, this vertical plate having a vertical slot |8| by means of which it is fitted around the raker bar ||0. At its front edge this plate |80 ts against the inclined front wall |16 ofthe hopper and its rear edge is vertical and fits against the rear wall 15 of the hopper. Its top edge is preferably inclined forwardly and downwardly and to this top edge is secured a plate |8|a which forms flanges along the top edge of this plate |80. On this plate |80 is supported an independent narrow plate |82 which fits against the adjacent side wall I of the hopper and also ts against the front and rear walls 16 and 15 of the hopper. 'I o the upper face of this plate |82 are welded a pair of lugs or ears |83 which extend beyond the plate |82 toward the center of the hopper. To these ears is bolted a wide panel |84 which at its opposite edge is provided with a pair of ears |85 Vwhich are similar to the ears 83. Similar narrower panels |86 having pairs of ears |81 extend beyond the panel |84 and are bolted together in the same manner.- The series of panels terminates in a wide end panel |88 which is bolted to the ears |81 of the adjacent narrow panel |86l It vwill be understood that the reason for wide and narrow panels is to secure flexibility in proportioning the length of the complete panel assembly so that a panel assembly of any desired length can be provided by using different arrangements and numbers of panel sections. To

the end plate |88 is bolted the upper flange |88 of a vertical plate |90, the forward edge of this vertical plate |90 resting on the inclined front wall 16 of the hopper and the rear edge of this vertical plate |90 resting against the rear wall 15 of the hopper. However, the form of this vertical plate |90 is different from the form of the oppositeend plate |80 and its lower rear portion is cut away so as to completely clear the raker bar ||0. For this purpose the entire lower rear corner of the plate |90 is cut away, as indicated at |9|, so as to provide a substantial clearance around the raker bar I0. This cut away portion of the plate |90 is partly closed by another plate |92 which rests against the outer face of the plate |90 and is formed to provide an upwardly extending portion |93, the rear edge of which ts against the.'

rear wall 15 of the hopper, and is also formed with a forwardly extending portion |94 which tical plates |90 and |92 clear the raker bar ||0` and to block oif this clearance a split disk, indicated generally at |98, is mounted on the raker bar and rotates adjacent the inner faces of the vertical plates |90 and |92. The split diskl98 can be of any suitable construction but is preferably in the form of two halves, each having an annular bracket |99 welded thereto and these brackets are bolted together against the opposite square faces of the raker bar, as best illustrated l in Fig. 15. i

From the foregoing it will be seen that by blocking oif a portion of the hopper the strip which is laid by the machine is materially reduced in width and that by selectingI a proper combination of wide and narrow panels for the top of the blocking oi structure the width of the strip being laid can be adjusted as desired. However, in laying a narrowstrip it is highly desirable that both edges of the narrow strip be laid against an edger plate. The edge of the narrow strip at the opposite end of the hopper from that which is blocked oif is, of course, edged by the corresponding edger plate |69 at that side of thehopper and to provide a similar edger plate at the opposite edge of the narrow strip being laid the plate |92 is provided with a downward extension 200 which extends under the cut off bar and forms an edger plate similar to the edger plates |69 at the opposite sides of the machine. The edger plate 200 is designed to move vertically with the sub-frame of the machine which also carries the other two edger plates |69 bolted to the cross bar |26, as best illustrated in l Fig. 10. This cross bar forms a part of the subframe inasmuch as it connects the side bars |21 ofthe sub-frame and it will therefore be seen that raising or lowering the sub-frame and the edger plates |69 and the cut-off bar |20 carried by the sub-frame will also raise and lower the edger plate 200 correspondingly.

The opposite end of the rod 202 is preferably secured to a bracket 206 which is also secured to the angle plate 205 so as to move therewith. It will therefore be seen that the edger plate 200 holds the adjacent edge of the strip being laid to an exact edge so that successive strips can readily be laid to one another, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

By the word carriage, as used herein, is meant any means of conveyance, regardless of whether supported by wheels or rollers, as shown, or by any other means.

From the foregoing it is'apparent that the present invention provides a machine accomplishing the objects set forth in the preamble hereof in a simple and efcient manner and permits of laying asphaltic paving materials in smooth accurate' layers without the use of forms and will operate without interruption to iinish the road with any desired crowns or inclination. The machine is further more simple to operate and will stand up under constant use without getting out of order or out of adjustment.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a road paver of the character described, a carriage, means for movably supporting the front end of said carriage and arranged to ride on the relatively rough surface to be paved, means intermediate the front and rear ends of said carriage for depositing an excess of paving material on the surface to be paved, means for cutting off said excess to provide a smooth graded layer, means flor adjusting the elevation of said last means relative to said carriage to adjust the thickness of the layer of surfacing material being laid, and means for movably supporting the rear end of the carriage. comprising a plurality of rollers adapted to traverse and roll the full width of the strip laid by said depositing means, said rollers being arranged one in advance of the other so that their paths overlap, and spring means interposed between at least one of said rollers and the frame whereby both of said rollers are at all times in contact with the nished surface and the level of the nished surface is determined by the differential in height between the means supporting the front end of the carriage and said rollers.

f 2. In a road paver of the character described, a carriage, means for movably supporting the front end of said carriage and arranged to ride on the relatively rough surface to be paved, means intermediate the front and rear ends of said carriage for depositing a smooth graded layer of paving material on the surface to be paved, means for adjusting the elevation of said last means relative to said carriage to adjust the thickness of the layer of surfacing material being laid, means for adjusting the eiective width of said depositing means to vary the width of the strip being laid and means for movably supporting the rear end of the carriage comprising a plu- Y rality of rollers arranged one in advance of the other and adapted to traverse and roll the full width of the strip laid by said depositing means, and means for adjustably moving at least one of said rollers transversely of the machine to vary their eiective width and springmeans interposed between at least one of said rollers and the frame whereby both of said rollers are at all times in contact with the finished surface and the level of the finished surface is determined by the diierential in height between the means supporting the front end of the carriage and said rollers.

3. In a road paver of the character described, a carriage,A means for movably supporting the front end of said carriage and arranged to ride on the relatively rough surface to be paved, means intermediate the front and rear ends of said carriage for depositing a smooth graded layer of paving material on the surface to be paved and means for movably supporting the rear end of the-carriage comprising a center roller and two side rollers, the center roller being offset, fore and aft from said two side rollers and the paths of said side and center rollers overlapping, and

- means for adjustingthe downward pressure exporting the front end of said carriage and arranged to ride on the relatively rough. surface to be paved, means on said carriage for turning said steering wheels, means intermediate the front and rear ends of said carriage for depositing a smooth graded layer of paving material on the surface to be paved, a plurality of rollers supporting the rear end of the carriage and resting on and being adapted to roll the full width of the strip laid by said depositing means, a prime mover on said carriage and gear means connecting both the front steering wheels and said rollers with said prime mover for driving both said steering wheels and said rollers from said prime mover.

5. In a road paver of the character described, a carriage, a hopper mounted on said carriage and. having an elongated bottom discharge opening arranged transversely of the line of movement of said carriage, a cutter bar arranged in rear and parallel with said opening and arranged to smooth off the material discharged through said opening to a predetermined height, means for reciprocating said cutter bar transversely of the line of movement of said carriage and means for positively raising and positively lowering said cutter bar relative to said carriage and including opposed springs Which provide a limited vertical yielding movement for said cutter bar.

6. In a road paver of the character described, a carriage, a hopper mounted on said carriage and having an elongated bottom discharge opening arranged transversely of the line of movement of said carriage, a cutter bar arranged in rear and parallel with said opening and arranged to smooth off the material discharged through said opening to a predetermined height, means for reciprocating said ,cutter bar transversely of the line of movement of said carriage and means for positively raising and positively lowering each end of said cutter bar to any desired position relative to said carriage and independently of the adjustment of the other endof the cutter bar.

7. In a road paver of the character described, a carriage, a hopper mounted on said carriage` and lhaving an elongated bottom discharge opening arranged transversely of the line of movement of said carriage,y a cutter bar `arranged in rear and parallel with said opening and arranged to smooth off the material discharged through said opening to a predetermined height, means for reciprocating said cutter bar transversely of the line of movement of said carriage, means for adjusting the elevation of each end of said cutter bar to any desired position relative to said carriage and independently ,of the adjustment of the other end of the cutter bar, and gage means for indicating the adjustment of each end of said cutter bar comprising an indicating member carried by each end of said cutter bar and corresponding indieating members carried by said carriage, one of said indicating members being calibrated.

8. In a road paver of the character described, a carriage, a hopper mounted on said carriage and having an elongated bottom discharge opening arranged transversely of the line of movement of said carriage, a cutter bar arranged in rear and parallel with said opening, means for reciprocating said cutter bar lengthwise to smooth off the material discharged through said opening to a predetermined height, and an` edger attached to said carriage, said edger being arranged under the .corresponding end of said cutter bar and edging the strip formedthereby.

9. In a road spreaderA of the character described, a carriage having its front end adapted to be supported on the surfaceto be paved and ranged in rear and parallel with said opening to smooth oi thematerial discharged through said opening to a predetermined height, and an edger mounted on at least one side of said sub-carriage and arranged under the corresponding end of said cutter bar and edging the strip formed thereby.

10. A road paver comprising a carriage, power means to propel said carriage, a hopper carried by said carriage and adapted to receive the paving material from a truck dumping from in front of said carriage, said hopper having atransverse opening through which the paving material is discharged, and rolling means carried by said carriage in advance of said hopper'and adapted to engage the wheels of said truck whereby said paver can push the truck along and continue the pavingoperation while the truck is discharging the paving material. z

11. A road spreader of the character described, mprising a carriage, a hopperlmounted on said .{carriage and having anjelongated bottom discharge opening arranged transversely of the line of movement of said carriage, arotary raker bar journalled in said hopper, means for rotating said raker b ar, a plurality of substantially flat blades projecting radially from said raker bar and means for adjusting the angle of the face of th blades .relative to the axis of the bar.

12. A road spreader of the character described, comprising a carriage, a hopper mounted on said carriage and having an elongated bottom discharge opening arranged transversely of the line of movement of said carriage, means for blocking off a portion of said hopper to vary the width of the strip of pavement deposited by said hopper, comprising a vertical plate adapted to be inserted in said hopper transversely of its opening and a top panel extending from said plate to Vone vend of said hopper and closing that end of the hopper.

13. A road spreader of the character described, comprising a carriage, a hopper mounted on said carriage and having an elongated bottom discharge opening arranged transverselyoi the line of movement of said carriage, means for blocking oi a portion of saidhopper to vary the width of the strip of pavement deposited by said hopper comprising a vertical plate adapted to be inf serted in said hopper transversely of its opening and a plurality of top panels secured together side by side and extending from said plate to 'one end of said hopper and closing oi that end of the hopper.

14. A road spreader of the character described, comprising a carriage, a hopper mounted on the carriage and having an elongated bottom discharge opening arranged transversely of` the line ofA movement of said carriage, a rotary raker bar journalled in said hopper, means for rotating said raker bar, and a vertical plate in one end of said hopper and extending transversely of said opening, a pair of vertical plates in saidhopper and each extending transversely of said opening at a distance from said first vertical plate and removably embracing said raker bar, a split disk secured to said raker bar adjacent said pair of plates and a plurality of removable panels connecting the upper end of said pair of plates and said first plate. f

15. A road spreader of the character described, comprising a carriage, a hopper mounted on said carriage and having an elongated bottom discharge opening arranged transversely of the line oil? a portion of said hopper to vary the width of the strip of pavement deposited by said hopper and an edger plate at the inner end of said blocking oil' means and extending through said opening to form a smooth edge on the strip being laid.

16. yA road spreader ofthe character described, comprising a carriage, a hopper mounted on said carriage and having an elongated bottom discharge o-pening arranged transversely of the line of movement of said carriage, means for blocking oif a portion of said hopper to vary the width of the strip of pavement deposited by said hopper and an edger plate secured to the inner end of said blocking off means and extending through said opening to form a smooth edge on the strip `adapted to cut oi the strip being laid to a uniform height, means for raising and lowering said cutting bar relative to said carriage, means for blocking off a portion of said hopper to vary the width ,of the strip of pavement deposited by said hopper and an edger plate carried by said raising and lowering means at the inner end of said blocking off means and extending through said opeining to form a smooth edge on the strip being la 18. A road spreader of the character described, comprising a carriage, a hopper mounted on said carriage and havingv an elongated bottom discharge opening arranged transversely of the line of movement of said carriage; a strike-oil bar extending transversely of the carriage and arranged at the rear end of said openingto grade the material deposited to a uniform level, aV rotary raker bar journaled in said hopper, means for rotating said raker bar, a pluralityof blades projecting radially from said raker bar the faces of said blades being disposed at an angle to the axis of said raker bar whereby an initial compression of the material in said hopper is effected before contacting with said strike-oil' bar.

19. The method of paving a road with a plurality of strips of paving material which consists in laying a strip of paving material, rolling said strip to within a short distance of its edge so as to leave a raised dam of unrolled'material rat said edge, laying another strip parallel with the iirst strip and against said dam and rolling said dam and second strip. l

20. In a road paver of the character described, a carriage, a hopper mounted on said carriage and having an elongated bottom discharge opening arranged transversely of the line of movement of said carriage, cutting means having a cutting edge extending the entire length thereof and arranged in rear and ,parallel with said opening and arranged to smooth o the material discharged through said opening to apredetermined* height, means for reciprocating said cutting means transversely of the line of movement of said carriage and'beyond opposite ends of said opening, whereby said cutting means is permitted to traverse and operate upon the edge oi a strip of paving material already laid and intimately unite the strip being laid therewith and means for adjusting the elevation of said cutting means relative to said carriage.

21,'In a road spreader of the character described, a carriage, a hopper mounted on said carriage and having an elongated bottom dis- 'said strike-oir member, a substantially horizontal closure for closing said opening, a prime mover on said carriage and means for operating said closure through power derived from said prime mover.

CLYDE GQ ABERNATH'Y. 

